Vitaly Mutko reveals truth behind his 2018 World Cup bidding ceremony speech

Russia’s sports minister Vitaly Mutko told about his widely criticized and mocked speech, which he read in English with a very strong Russian accent during the presentation of the Russia’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup.

«I could have already licensed that «Letz mi spik from mai hart» line and sell T-shirts with it!»

«How was that speech born?»

«I had to speak at that presentation in any case: I was a member of the Executive Committee, I’d been with those people for four years, and if I didn’t go out and speak to them, they just wouldn’t understand. The next thing was: what should I say? It had to be a short speech containing the main points. Then the question arose: how should I speak? In my native language or with simultaneous translation? But there were only two native English speakers, and I realized that no matter how I spoke English, the audience would understand me. On my part it was a sign of respect to them, an indication that we have prepared and made efforts. For some reason, many said afterwards that they were ashamed of how poor my language was. Well, OK, let’s imagine I would come out and speak impeccable English. It would not make such an effect! I felt we really did hit it.»

«Is it true that your speech had been written in Russian letters?»

«No, it wasn’t! It’s some kind of slander. I still have that sheet with my speech on it, I can show it to you. It has no sense: I read in English very well, as I learned the language at high school and at nautical school in my time», Mutko said in an interview with Nevskoye Vremya.